Risking it All (A Hawk Brothers Romance)

by Cami Checketts

  “Don’t do this to her,” Bridger begged.

  She had never seen Bridger beg, for anything. Even as a child or young teen, she’d seen his brothers teasing, sometimes torturing him, and he’d just smirk and yell at them to bring it on. Her heart twisted and expanded toward him at this moment. She was going to die and Bridger would do anything to protect her. Sadly, with all the armed men and the psychotic Ramsey, protecting her might be impossible.

  “Come on, man. I’ll do any publicity stunt. I’ll lose to make you look good. Anything you want.” Bridger’s voice dropped low. “Please don’t hurt her.”

  Ramsey grinned. “I knew I’d found the perfect woman. Let the games begin.”

  Then he shoved Avalyn into the water.

  “Ava!” Bridger yelled.

  Avalyn’s instinct was to scream, but luckily she clamped her mouth tight and held her breath. She flailed, but the anchor on her ankle dragged her down fast. Pressure built in her head until she thought it would explode. She tried not to breathe in and speed her demise.

  She stopped descending suddenly. The anchor must have hit the bottom of the ocean. She’d done free dives and scuba dives many times, and the instructor always claimed that if you slowly blew bubbles out, you could hold your breath longer. She tried, she really tried, but darkness edged in on her vision and the need to breathe in was all-consuming. She prayed to the Lord above for a miracle as she struggled to push the rope off with her other foot and somehow contort her body to get her hands to her ankle and free herself.

  Bridger. Would he come for her? Could he save her?

  Chapter Eight

  “Ava!” Bridger screamed as Avalyn was shoved off the boat deck and quickly sank in the clear, blue water. Ramsey had gone insane! Bridger ripped off his shirt and kicked off his shoes.

  Arms grabbed him from behind and held tight. “Calm down, man,” said Ramsey’s voice. “You’ve got to give her time to sink.”

  Bridger elbowed the guy holding him and was rewarded with his elbow making contact with his fleshy nose, a scream, and one of his arms was released. The guy holding his other arm clung tight. Ramsey was grinning and cameras were rolling. Bridger was going to kill Ramsey … right after he rescued Avalyn.

  “You gotta say your line or we can’t let you go after her,” Ramsey said.

  Bridger’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t care about his stupid line, but he growled, “What’s a challenge, and where do I find it?” Then he reached out and grabbed Ramsey, slamming him into the man clinging to Bridger’s arm. They both howled in pain, and finally Bridger was free.

  He dove into the water, angling his body straight down. The water was so clear he could see Avalyn probably forty feet down on the ocean bed. At least Ramsey had anchored at a shallow spot so Bridger had a chance of saving her. He’d covered maybe half of the distance when he saw a dark shadow approaching. Ramsey was diving much faster than Bridger was, holding on to a heavy rock.

  Bridger angled toward him, knocking his former friend off course and ripping the stone from his hands. He dropped much quicker now, his ears popping and his head close to exploding. He had gone deeper on a free dive, but forty feet was plenty to feel the pressure and pain, though thankfully without the risk of the bends when you surfaced.

  At least Bridger would be the first one to reach her, so there was no risk of Ramsey claiming he got to stay with Avalyn tonight. What a nasty jerk to even put that on the table. Bridger would protect her virtue, if he could get her out of the water before they both died. He dropped the rock to the side, horror slicing through him as he saw that Avalyn had passed out. Please don’t let her die, he begged his Father above.

  He tugged at the rope on her ankle, working the knot frantically. It was too tight, pulled even tighter by her being dragged to the ocean floor and the water sealing it in place. No! He grabbed the rock he’d dropped and tried to chisel through the rope with the sharp edge. He was running out of oxygen and his lungs felt like they were being crushed. He blew out bubbles slowly. Please, Lord. Help me!

  A shadow blotted out the sunlight above. Bridger glared up at Ramsey. If the man didn’t help Bridger save Avalyn, he was going to kill him with his bare hands and hope they posted it on YouTube.

  Ramsey held out a knife. Bridger ripped it from him and quickly cut through the rope tying Avalyn’s ankle to the anchor. As soon as it gave, he released the knife, pulled Avalyn into his arms, and kicked for the surface. There was no time for any kind of slow ascent. He’d built up a tolerance for dives like this and would be fine, but what would it do to Avalyn? Her body was horribly limp. He could see Ramsey out of his peripheral vision and two other bodies as well, both in full scuba gear with camera equipment. If they’d had men down there, why didn’t they help? Ramsey was truly insane.

  Bridger’s head burst through the surface. He was twenty yards from the yacht, and he dragged her that direction. Ramsey surfaced and helped him. Men reached down and lifted her onto the back of the platform. A man started CPR immediately.

  Bridger launched himself onto the boat. He pushed at the man’s shoulder. “Let me,” he demanded.

  The man glared up at him. “I’m a trained paramedic.”

  “Oh.” Bridger fell back and waited with bated breath. The sun beat down on him, drying the water on his skin. Despite the tropical heat, he was chilled to the bone.

  Ramsey climbed up onto the platform, also eyeing Avalyn with apprehension. Bridger couldn’t wait to take him out; he didn’t care how many weapons were aimed at them. He’d use Ramsey’s body as a shield from the bullets as he pummeled him with his fists. But first he had to know Avalyn was okay. She lay there motionless as the man kept breathing into her nose and mouth. Please, Lord, please. Bridger was a religious person and had good communication with the Lord above, but he couldn’t ever remember praying so diligently.

  He met Ramsey’s gaze across Avalyn’s unresponsive body. Ramsey’s eyes were full of remorse and concern. Bridger didn’t care. Ramsey had better be praying Avalyn lived, or Bridger would drown him. The weapons couldn’t stop him under the water.

  The only sounds were the water lapping against the boat and the paramedic’s movements as he finished chest compressions and went back to rescue breathing.

  With a sudden gurgle, Avalyn threw up sea water.

  Bridger’s breath rushed out of him. She was alive! The paramedic pushed her onto her side, and she heaved out another rush of water before just lying there, trembling.

  Bridger wanted to swoop her up and get her far away from this nightmare, from these men who would have killed her for a publicity stunt. He stormed toward Ramsey. “You could’ve killed her!”

  An arm encircled his throat and a gun was shoved into his abdomen. Another man came at him from the other side with another gun aimed at his chest. Bridger wanted to throw them off and pummel Ramsey, but he’d be no help to Avalyn if he was dead.

  “You were the one who could’ve killed her.” Ramsey stalked toward him. “I have this all planned out. She will be perfectly safe if you’ll stop going off half-cocked.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You would’ve had your own weight and knife to get to her and to cut her free if you didn’t freak out and go all rogue! It was supposed to be a level competition.”

  “This woman is not the object of your crazy competition.” He gestured to Avalyn. She looked so fragile and innocent, curled on her side. He’d never seen Avalyn helpless, and it tore at him. He wanted her to sit up and put them all in their place with her usual commanding and inspiring presence. The paramedic guy wrapped a blanket over her abdomen and legs and talked quietly to her. Avalyn’s eyes were closed, but he could see her shoulders shaking.

  “I’m afraid she is.” Ramsey glared at him. “You have yourself to blame for endangering her today. This will be a fun competition, if you’ll just trust me.”

  Trust him? “Give me that knife now; I know just where I’ll put it.” Bridger struggled to
free himself from the men pinning him between them. The guns were jammed harder into his abdomen.

  Ramsey laughed, but it was shaky. Was he really committed to going through with his insane plan after seeing Avalyn almost die? “Come on, my friend. Calm down. You won’t be any help to her if I give them permission to fire.”

  Ramsey was no friend of his. Bridger didn’t know if they’d truly shoot him if he fought, but it took all of his strength to stand down. How could he get Avalyn away from all of this? Maybe if they were posting the videos each day, Creed would be able to find them, track their progress, search out Ramsey’s money trail, something.

  “Tomorrow you need to slow down and listen to instructions, not fight your way through like you do with everything. This is a friendly competition, man. Make it fun.” Ramsey winked as if they were competing at the world surf championship and it was all good fun.

  “No tomorrow, Ramsey. You have your crazy video. Use it however you want, and let us go.”

  Ramsey smiled patiently, spreading his hands. “I’m afraid that’s not going to happen. I’ve got days and days of events planned out. And in case you have any high hopes that one of your big brothers will save you, know that I’m not going to start posting the videos until the competition is over and you two are stored away at a secure facility.” His eyes gleamed. “If you survive.” He clapped his hands. “Now. I’m exhausted. Would you like to join me for dinner, or would you like to have your dinner in Miss Shaman’s suite with her?”

  Bridger drew in a ragged breath. He saw no way to fight ten armed men and escape in the middle of the ocean. “We’ll eat alone,” he muttered.

  “Ah, I’d choose the same. Enjoy your night with her, Bridge. Tomorrow night she might be mine.” Ramsey walked away, chuckling.

  Bridger’s jaw clenched. He would never let Ramsey have his way with Avalyn. He’d die first.

  The men released him, and he hurried to Avalyn. She sat up as he approached, and the blanket slid down on her shoulders. Her clothes and hair were plastered to her. “Bridger?” she whispered, gazing up at him with her beautiful dark eyes, looking much too uncertain and afraid.

  His chest tightened. He’d almost lost her today. How could he get her far away from Ramsey? He couldn’t imagine the gauntlet of activities Ramsey had planned. The man claimed he wouldn’t hurt Avalyn, but she could’ve easily died today, and doing any of the extreme sports they usually did could result in death or serious injury. Especially if she was tied up.

  He bent low and swept her into his arms. Having her close was settling, though anger at Ramsey still traced through him.

  The men stood back out of their way, except for Mike, the baldy who’d met him at the airport. “Her room is this way, sir.”

  Bridger jerked his chin up at him and followed the man through the spacious living area and kitchen and down one of the hallways. Mike pushed open a door, and Bridger strode inside, slamming the door closed behind him and securing the lock with one hand as he clung to Avalyn with the other. It was silly, as the men could bust in here at any moment. No lock could keep Avalyn safe.

  Despair overwhelmed him. How was he going to protect her every day? What if Ramsey won and she was forced to spend the night with that slimeball? What if neither of them won and she died in one of these stupid adventures? Bridger had been an extreme athlete for years now, but he suddenly had no stomach for adventure or thrills. He wanted to be tucked away in a quiet house in Long Island with Avalyn cuddled in his arms. Their parents just down the road. Maybe a baby on the way. If that dream could come true, he would give up all this insanity.

  Sadly, it was a dream that he couldn’t make come true. Even if they escaped, Avalyn had made it abundantly clear on Christmas Eve that she didn’t want him. He held her close. At least she was in his arms and safe … for the moment.

  Chapter Nine

  Avalyn couldn’t stop shivering. A coughing spell racked her body. When it settled, she stared up at Bridger’s handsome face. She was alive. Had Bridger saved her? He must have, or else she’d be in the horrid Ramsey’s arms. A shudder passed through her.

  Bridger’s brow furrowed. “Oh, Ava Baby. I’m so sorry.”

  She pushed out a breath, and her gaze settled on his bare chest. She let herself lean her cheek against the smooth skin and muscle, too spent to pretend she didn’t want him to simply hold her close until all the fear went away. “You’re sorry,” she muttered. “Because you saved me?” She glanced up at him.

  A muscle worked in Bridger’s jaw. “Ramsey only brought you here because of me.”

  Avalyn’s breath caught. This Ramsey guy really thought Bridger loved her? Maybe in this twisted world these people lived in, Bridger’s version of love ’em and leave ’em would be considered devotion. That wasn’t her world. How was she going to get out of here? Her chest tightened and she started coughing again. Her head hurt worse than it had when she’d awoken from being drugged earlier.

  Bridger carried her through the room into the attached bath. He set her on her feet and pulled open the glass shower door, pulling the shower knob out. “We’ve got to get you warm.”

  Warm sounded wonderful. The ocean hadn’t been cold when she’d first fallen in, but maybe a near drowning just made you feel cold all over. Bridger tested the water with his hand and then turned to her. He grasped the edges of her shirt and started to lift it.

  “Bridger!” Avalyn cried out, pushing his hands away.

  “What?” His dark eyes were confused as he focused on her face.

  “You aren’t undressing me,” she said sharply. Did he undress women regularly? The mere thought of it consumed her with jealousy.

  “Oh!” Bridger was close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. His hands settled on her waist. “I … was just trying to help.”

  “Well, I don’t need your help.”

  Bridger stared down at her. His eyes were so full of concern and worry for her, it about broke her resolve to keep him at arm’s length. “I don’t want to leave you,” he murmured, his gaze traveling over her face.

  Avalyn pushed out an unsteady laugh. The worry over other women was pushed far away as she basked in Bridger staring at her as if she were something special to him. “Yeah, well, you’re going to have to,” she murmured. “At least so I can shower.”

  Bridger stepped back, and Avalyn felt like she could breathe again. How could she have all these romantic thoughts when she’d almost died and Ramsey was going to try to kill her again tomorrow? Bridger was only this attentive to her because she had nearly drowned and there were no models and actresses around to compete for his affection.

  “You’ll be okay?” Bridger asked, averting his gaze from her.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  He nodded. “Wait a second. I’ll grab your suitcase.” He hurried from the bathroom and returned with her suitcase. Without another word, he set it down next to the vanity, then stepped back out of the bathroom and shut the door tight.

  Avalyn pulled in a slow breath, her hands still trembling from cold or shock, she wasn’t sure. She peeled off her wet, salt-water-caked clothes and hung them over the glass shower door to drip-dry. She retrieved some shampoo, conditioner, and body wash from her suitcase. It was surreal to do something as normal as showering when they were in this horrific situation, but as she stepped into the warm water, she couldn’t help but send up a prayer of gratitude. They had survived, and Bridger was here with her. For some reason, he gave her strength to think she could face tomorrow.

  Bridger paced outside the bathroom door while Avalyn showered, prepared to go in there if he heard a crash or bang of any sort. She had to be a mess right now and he hated leaving her alone, but he needed to respect her privacy, and if he saw her in the shower … well, all of the self-control his parents had instilled in him and he’d maintained throughout the years would probably fly out the window at that point.

  A rap came from the hallway. He hurried over and opened the doo
r. Mike handed over his bag. Then he gestured, and a younger man walked in with trays of food on a rolling cart. It smelled delicious. The young man nodded to him and walked back out. Mike stood by the door, rubbing his bald head.

  “Thanks.” Bridger started to shut the door.

  Mike put his hand on it. “You did good today, man.”

  Bridger stared at him, not sure what to make of the compliment. “Thank you.”

  “Is Miss Shaman … okay?”

  Bridger shrugged. “As good as she can be.”

  Mike opened his mouth, but then he closed it. He nodded once before turning and striding back down the hallway.

  Bridger shut and locked the door, then returned to his post by the bathroom door. It was torture to think of Avalyn showering in there, but he pushed his longing far away. He couldn’t get distracted by wanting to hold her or kiss her. He had to play Ramsey’s games and save her each day until they could escape.

  What was up with Ramsey? Bridger still couldn’t wrap his mind around this twisted competition Ramsey had created. The moment Ramsey had shoved Avalyn into the ocean, with an anchor tied to her ankle, kept replaying over and over in his mind. Would Ramsey really do something that malicious to gain more followers? Not the Ramsey he’d thought he knew.

  The shower stopped, and still Bridger waited. Quite a while later, the bathroom door swung open and Avalyn appeared with a mist of steam. She looked fresh and beautiful with her long hair wet and smooth down her back, wearing a simple white sundress. Her dark skin contrasted so perfectly, he wanted nothing more than to run his fingers along her smooth shoulder and reassure himself that she was all right.

  “Have you been standing out here this whole time?” She planted her hands on her hips and tossed her hair.

  Bridger couldn’t help but smile. “Had to make sure you were okay.”

  The teasing light in her dark eyes went out. “I’ll be fine.”